From LeBron golfing to Jokic's horse, relive the NBA offseason through social media

The 2025-26 NBA play tips disconnected Tuesday, marking the opening of on-court storylines. However, that doesn't mean players didn't enactment engaged disconnected the tribunal during the offseason.

From LeBron James picking up play arsenic a caller hobby to Nikola Jokic celebrating with his horse, the NBA's biggest names made the astir of their offseason. Unlike 2024, which had the Paris Olympics, this summertime had an unfastened schedule, meaning constricted NBA enactment and much clip to deed the road.

Here's a look astatine the apical offseason moments, arsenic told by societal media.

Klay hard-launches caller relationship

Klay Thompson sent shockwaves crossed the popular civilization satellite with his July 12 Instagram post. Captioned "Sweet Bells son," the Dallas Mavericks defender posted a photograph collage of a caller vacation, but with a twist -- helium seemingly posed with rapper Megan Thee Stallion successful 1 of the pictures.

Fans rapidly speculated that the 2 were dating, sparking rumors of the relationship. It prompted comments from Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard and Ty Jerome, who wrote: "Woah hard launch."

The 2 took the reddish carpet successful New York days later, confirming their relationship.

LeBron, Bronny deed the play course

A viral improvement of the offseason centered connected LeBron James discovering his emotion for golfing. His first station arrived July 4, his 2nd time playing. James said: "Boy o lad it's a caput f--- to accidental the least! But I deliberation I bask that portion of it a lot."

He opened up astir it connected the "360 With Speedy" podcast past month.

"It's hard arsenic s---," James said. "... I wanted a challenge, man, and I similar being uncomfortable. Golf is similar 1 of the fewer places wherever I tin spell wherever I don't get bothered arsenic much."

LeBron wasn't the lone 1 with the play itch successful the James household -- his oldest lad and Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Bronny, besides picked up the sport. Bronny had a creaseless plaything for idiosyncratic who began playing 4 months earlier the video was posted.

French stars ain the chessboard

San Antonio Spurs prima Victor Wembanyama's emotion for chess is nary secret, with the center playing games successful a New York City park past December. He took that affinity to different level during the offseason, hosting the "Hoops Gambit" tourney successful his hometown of Le Chesnay, France.

Dozens of radical competed, including Minnesota Timberwolves halfway and chap Frenchman Rudy Gobert. The 2 adjacent faced disconnected successful a game.

A solemnisation heard crossed the world

There aren't galore things Denver Nuggets prima Nikola Jokic loves much than his horses -- and helium had the solemnisation to beryllium it.

Jokic was emotionally celebrating aft his equine won a contention successful Subotica, Serbia, successful precocious July. He teared up earlier hopping the gross to conscionable his equine and driver, past dumped champagne connected the radical and himself.

Days earlier, th...